Carton



June 25, 1957 5, J RQNDQNE 2,797,041

CARTON Filed Oct. 18, 1954 INVENTOR. SAM J. RONDONE A TTOR/VEVS nite CARTON Application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,720

4 Claims. (Cl. 2239) This invention relates to a new and useful carton and more particularly to a collapsible carton of a type formed from a single blank of suitable material such as paperboard or the like and a cover lock therefor.

in many commodity markets of today, it has been found economically desirable to display as much as possible of a packaged product to the consumer. Moreover, in the packaging of products, it also has been found that, in many instances, only a portion of the unit product need be packaged. For example, in packaging plants of various types, such as young rose plants, it is desirable to seal the plant in a plastic bag and package the root section, leaving the cane portion exposed for customer inspection. In order to accomplish this type of packaging, a carton is required which will provide an opening in the end cover through which a portion of the unit product can project and which will hold secure the remaining portion of the product disposed therein.

Although various type carton and end covers are known in the art, none effectively lend themselves to the type of packaging aforedescribed. For example, it has been conventional to cover a polygonal sided carton body by providing end flaps integral with the carton blank from which the carton is formed. The end flaps are then separated from each other by cuts, folded and interlocked. Such cuts, interlocks and overlaps in the resulting assembled end cover do not readily lend the carton to the aforedescribed packaging uses wherein an end cover must necessarily have an opening therethrough and at the same time remain secure as a cover.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a carton that has an opening in at least one end cover through which a portion of a packaged product can project, that portion of the product disposed in the carton being securely held therein.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a carton that can be readily fabricated from a single blank in collapsed condition, including the cover portions, on a conventional setting up machine and easily transported to the site of assembly.

Still another important feature of the present invention is to provide a cart-on that can be quickly and securely assembled from a collapsed condition with a limited number of motions.

Various other features of the present invention will become obvious from the disclosure set forth herein.

More particularly, the present invention provides a carton comprising spaced apart Wall panels, at least one intervening wall panel hingedly cooperating with the spaced apart panels, the intervening panel having tuck holding means disposed therein, and cover means hingedly cooperating with the spaced apart panels, the cover means having tuck forming means hingedly connected thereto adapted to cooperate with the tuck holding means.

Referring to the drawings in which one advantageous embodiment of the present invention is disclosed:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the instant assembled carton viewed from above;

States Patent Fig. 2 is a plan of the outside face of the blank employed to erect the carton;

Fig. 3 is a broken top plan of the carton in a closing stage of carton assembly;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the top portion of the carton viewed in the direction of arrow 4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan of the carton in a subsequent stage of assembly following that stage disclosed in Fig. 3, one looking flap having been tucked into engagement with a cooperating tuck holding means;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the top portion of the carton viewed in the direction of arrow 6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross section of a locking flap of the carton folded and tucked into locking engagement with its tuck holding means, viewed on line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross section of the top portion of the carton viewed on line 88 of Fig. 3 to disclose more clearly how the tuck is locked into engagement with the tuck holding means.

As disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the blank for the carton which is the subject of this invention is a flat, substantially rectangular piece of paperboard or similar suitable material. A so-called rectangular carton is preferred for the packaging of plants-tor example, rose bushesand the blank is divided into four rectangular body panels 2 and 2a by three longitudinal crease lines 3, a transverse top crease line 4 spaced downward from the top of the blank and a transverse bottom crease line 6 spaced upward from the bottom of the blank. Along one outside edge of the blank is a body securing flap 7 of a Width substantially less than the width of the body panels 2 and 2a and hinged to the adjacent body panel by a longitudinal crease line 8. This securing flap 7 extends beyond the transverse top crease line 4 to form a top securing flap 9 of the same width as the body securing flap, flap 9 being hinged to an adjacent locking flap, hereinafter described, by an extension 11 of the longitudinal crease line 8. The bottom edge of body securing flap 7 terminates substantially in line with the transverse bottom crease line 6. V

' The material above the top transverse crease line 4 comprises the top cover means including top cover flaps 12 and locking flaps 12a, all hingedly connected together. Bottom cover flaps 13 are hingedly connected to bottom crease line 6. The bottom flaps can be one of a number of known types. In the advantageous embodiment disclosed, adjacent bottom flaps are separated by cuts 14 which integrally provide each of alternating bottom flaps 13 with an opposite pair of tucks or locking tongues 16. The other bottom flaps 13 are each provided with an inverted U-shape'd cut 17, comprising two spaced parallel cut lines running substantially normal to the transverse bottom crease line 6 and a connecting cut line therebetween. The connecting cut lines run substantially parallel to crease line 6 and connect the parallel cut lines of each pair at their extremities closest to the crease line 6. These U-shaped cuts provide depressable flaps and when the bottom cover flaps are folded inward as the carton is erected, the tongues 16 can be tucked under these flaps to provide a locked bottom cover for the carton.

In accordance with the present invention, the top cover flaps 12 and locking flaps 12a are hingedly connected together by flap crease lines 18 which are aligned with the longitudinal crease lines 3 and, in effect, are extensions of lines 3. Each of the locking flaps 12a is provided with a tuck forming pair of cooperating lines of weakness in the form of crease lines 19, the pair of lines extending obliquely outward away from each other from a point substantially intermediate the outer edge of the flap part way toward the inner corners of the flap 12a located on the transverse crease line 4. Extending the remainder of the way to these inner corners. are the. cut lines 21.

abl about crease line 4 and at the same time to define a cut out portion adjacent the boundary edge provided by out line 22. Corner cuts 23 form corners 23' the purpose of which is described hereinafter.

A pair of tuck cr'ea'se lines 26 also is provided in each of the locking flaps 12a. The lines 26 are not essential but desirable and as will be seen hereinafter, these lines serve as means to enhance pivoting a tuck 35 formed on tuck crease lines 19 into engagement with its tuck holding means. This tuck holding means is in the form of a depressable locking flap 30 formed on each panel 2a by a U-shaped cut. This cut comprises two parallel cut lines 27 running substantially normal to the transverse top crease line 4 and a connecting cut line 28 therebe'tween. Cut line 28 runs substantially-parallel to the aforementioned connecting cut line 22 in flap 12a, being slightly shorter than cut 22 and spaced a distance from the transverse crease line 4 slightly 'less than the distance cut line 22 is spaced from crease line 4.

As will be seen hereinafter, when the carton is erected the out line 22 defines a boundary of the formed tuck 35 which cooperates with locking flap 30 to lock the tuck into engagement with the body panel 2a.

Provided in each of the top cover flaps 12 substantially intermediate its outer corners is the cut portion 29. As will also be seen hereinafter, when the carton is erected the cut portion 29 of each flap 12 mates with the other to form an opening in the end cover of the carton. It is to be understood that various shape cuts can be used in accordance with the product to be packaged. The blank is set up in collapsed state by gluing the securing flaps 7 and 9, it being understood that these flaps can also be secured by other means such as sewing and metallic stapling, as is known in the art. The body securing flap 7 is glued under the outside marginal edge of outer body panel 2 and the top securing flap 9 is glued under the outside marginal edge of outer top cover flap 12.

When the collapsed carton is about to be filled with a product such as a rose bush plant, it is erected into shape in this case a rectangular prismand then the bottom cover flaps 13 are folded iiiwardly to form the bottom cover of the carton.

The root portion of the plant is placed into the carton, the plant having been previously pruned, tied, tagged and wrapped in a transparent plastic bag.

Thereafter, the top end cover flaps 1-2 which bear the cut portions 29 are folded inwardly toward each other to form a cover, the cut portions mating to form opening 31 and to fastly encircle the cane portion of the plant which extends from the carton. As these opposite end cover flaps 12 having cuts 29 are moved inwardly toward each other, the intervening locking flaps 12a disposed intermediate thereof and hingedly connected thereto are caused to move outwardly away from each other to form automatically outwardly extending locking tucks 35 along the tuck forming lines of weakness 19 which lines are disposed in each of the flaps 12a. At the same time, the swing flaps 24 formed in each of locking flaps 1 2a are pivoted inwardly toward each other about the crease line 4 to be overlapped by the cover flaps 12. When the tucks 35 in flaps 12a have been fully formed, they extend outwardly away from each other and away from the opening 31 and are each double ply, comprising the carton material bounded by tuck crease lines 26, the outer edge of flap 12a and out line 22.

The flaps 12a are then pivote'd downwardly and inwardly about the crease line 4 toward the panels 2a which have the tuck holding means in the form of U-shaped cuts disposed therein. As they approach the panels, the formed lockingtucks 35 are pivoted about the tuck crease lines 26 in each flap 12a and inserted into the tuck holding means formed by the U-shaped cuts, the corners 23' formed by cuts 23, coinciding with the corners formed by cut 27 and 28. The locking flap 30 is depressed inwardly to permit this insertion of tuck 35. Since connecting out line 28, which helped form part of locking flap 30, is spaced a distance from crease 4 slightly less than the distance cut line 22, which helped form part of tuck 35, is spaced from crease 4, locking can be readily effected. This is so because tuck 35 engages under flap 30. Thus, the tucks 35 on flaps 12a are locked into positive engagement with the body panels 2a and secure top cover flap 12 hingedly connected to flaps 12a into covering position.

Although the described carton is particularly adapted for plants such as rose bushes, it is to be understood that the use of the carton is not to be limited to this only.

Finally, it is to be understood that various changes can be made by one skilled in the art in the arrangement, form and construction of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a carton having spaced apart wall panels, cover flaps hingedly cooperating therewith and an intervening wall panel hingedly cooperating with said spaced apart wall panels, a locking means for said cover fiaps comprising an intervening flap hingedly attached to said cover flaps, said intervening flap having lines of weakness disposed thereon, each extending obliquely outward away from the other from a point substantially intermediate the corners of the outer edge of said flap substantially toward an inner corner of said intervening flap whereby inward folding of said cover flaps causes said intervening flap to fold outwardly on its cooperating lines of weakness to create a two-ply folded tuck projecting outwardly from said cover flaps to which it is hinged, a transverse cut connecting said lines of weakness intermediate the outer edge of said intervening flap and the end of said intervening panel, and tuck holding means disposed in said intervening panel in cooperative alignment with said transverse cut to lock said folded tuck when it is folded downwardly into engagement with said tuck holding means.

2. In a carton having spaced apart wall panels, cover flaps hingedly cooperating therewith and an intervening wall panel hingedly cooperating with said spaced apart wall panels; a locking means for said cover flaps comprising an intervening flap hingedly attached to said cover flaps, said intervening flap having lines of weakness disposed thereon, each extending obliquely outward away from the other from a point substantially intermediate the corners of the outer edge of said flap substantially toward an inner corner of said intervening flap whereby inward folding of said cover flaps causes said intervening flap to fold outwardly on its cooperating lines of weakness to create a two-ply folded tuck projecting outwardly from said cover flaps to which it is hinged; a cut connecting said lines of weakness intermediate the outer edge of said intervening flap and the end of said intervening panel, said'cut defining a boundary on said folded tuck adjacent said intervening panel; and a cut in said intervening panel providing a fiap in said intervening panel, said boundary of said tuck being below said flap to lock said tuck into engagement with said intervening panel when said tuck is folded downwardly into engagement with said out of said intervening panel.

3. In a carton having spaced apart wall panels, cover flaps hingedly cooperating therewith and an intervening wall panel hingedly cooperating with said spaced apart wall panels; a locking means for said cover flaps comprising an intervening flap hingedly attached to said cover-flaps; lines of weakness disposed on said intervening flap, each such line of weakness extending obliquely outward away from the other from a point substantially intermediate the corners of the outer edge of said flap part way toward an inner corner of said intervening flap and cut lines extending substantially obliquely the remainder of the way to said corners whereby inward folding of said cover flaps causes said intervening flap to fold outwardly on its cooperating lines of weakness to create a two-ply folded tuck projecting outwardly from said cover flaps to which it is hinged; a transverse out line joining said oblique cut lines thereby defining a partial cover flap pivoted on said intervening panel and adapted to swing inwardly to be overlapped by said inward folded cover flaps; and tuck holding means in cooperative alignment with said folded tuck.

4. In a carton having spaced apart wall panels, cover flaps hingedly cooperating therewith and an intervening wall panel hingedly cooperating with said spaced apart wall panels, a locking means for said cover flaps comprising an intervening flap hingedly attached to said cover flaps; lines of Weakness disposed on said intervening flap, each such line of weakness extending obliquely outward away from the other from a point substantially intermediate the corners of the outer edge of said flap toward an inner corner of said intervening flap whereby inward fold ing of said cover flaps causes said intervening flap to fold outwardly on its cooperating lines of weakness to create a two-ply folded tuck projecting outwardly from said cover flaps to which it is hinged; a transverse out line in the body of said intervening flap and connecting said oblique lines of weakness at a location spaced from an end of said intervening wall panel, said transverse cut line forming a boundary edge of a cut out portion in said intervening flap, said out out portion being located between said transverse cut line and said end of said intervening panel; and a cut in said intervening panel, said cut being above said boundary edge in said intervening flap to lock said folded tuck into engagement with said intervening panel when said tuck is folded downwardly into engagement With said cut of said intervening panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,204 Zinn Mar. 7, 1950 1,816,985 Morris Aug. 4, 1931 1,954,006 Wolf Apr. 10, 1934 2,276,820 Bonfield Mar. 17, 1942 2,481,380 Anderson Sept. 6, 1949 2,646,917 Smith July 28, 1953 2,692,721 Pennebaker Oct. 26, 1954 

